Iskander

Iskander, the capital of the Democratic States of Mercalia, is a sprawling metropolis designed for warfare.

Government
Originally, the founder, Ario Iskander, led the city as First Hero—a position that could only be passed on through martial combat. Eventually though, a democratically elected City Council was chosen from among the populace. This council was composed of 'Speakers' who were frequently loud, individualistic and sometimes obnoxious during their debates, often using intimidation against each other to try and pass legislation. The Chief Speaker leads this forum and had final say on policy-making decisions.

Defenses
Priests and paladins of Hastia based out of the Parthenon, the city's religious and administrative temple, patrol the border of the Mournlands perimeter. One hundred men and women served as Hastia's Hundred, a fighting force consisting of magic-users, warriors and even thieves. Before Hellgate Keep was sealed however, this troop would leave the city for the Mournlands every Spring to battle the shadow monsters. When the Parthenon expanded to become a city a high wall was erected around it.

History
Founded by Ario Iskander, a warrior priest of Hastia and former member of the Company of Crazed Venturers, as a farm that was originally known as Hastia's Stead. Other followers of her arrived, electing to stay, and the site had grown to become a fortified town of seven hundred surrounding an abbey.

Cultists responsible for infecting others with Corruption used the city as a base posing as Hastia's Chosen while desecrating the abbey until the Hero of Iskander wiped them out in a fierce battle.

After the cultists, the Black Network briefly conquered the place but then it was allowed to be retaken when the they fled the city after Mount Vala erupted.

Iskander became a prime site for refugees fleeing the Mourning Lord's destruction, many infected with corrupted energies. Though none of the residents held any preconceived notions against such people, many of the uninfected refugees brought theirs with them and persecuted any who showed signs of corruption. Those who were persecuted against fought back, forming the Heirs of Mourning to retaliate against their oppressors.

When the reconstruction efforts in the Free Cities began, they put a call out to all skilled carpenters and masons to come to them to help. This left a dreadful lack of such tradesmen in the city and caused many of the buildings to fall into disrepair. Because of the already high population of corrupted within the walls, and the success that some of the priests had shown in suppressing symptoms, Hero Icanos Karthani also issued the Protector's Law, an edict that required all those showing symptoms be sent to the city for treatment.